Plan your visit

Explore the Island

Discover the stories behind Sydney Harbour's largest island.
Take a guided tour of Cockatoo

It's easy to visit Cockatoo Island. This unique island is located in Sydney Harbour, just a 10-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay and the centre of Sydney.

A regular ferry service links the island to Circular Quay, making the historic site available to the public for the first time since shipbuilding ceased on the island in the early 1990s.

Use the information below to plan your trip to Cockatoo Island.

Opening hours and entry

Cockatoo Island is open every day of the year. However, on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's day the Muster Station Visitor Centre is closed.

Entry is free. (Ferry ticket is additional)

The Visitor Centre is staffed by volunteers from 10am to 4pm daily. Our volunteers can help you with advice on exploring the island and visitor facilities and tell you more about Cockatoo's colourful history.

Getting there

Sydney Ferries operates services from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island every day.

More information on ferry services

The island is also accessible by water taxi and private boat or barge:

Boats, Barges and Water Taxis

Visitor facilities

Visitor information is available in the Muster Station, just near the arrival wharf. Our volunteers are also there to meet you and provide advice from 10am to 4pm daily.

Toilet facilities are located behind the Muster Station.

There are no ATM facilities on the island.

Cafe

The Canteen offers a great variety of hot and cold meals, snacks, hot and cold drinks. The cafe is located on the eastern side of the island, overlooking the Plaza and the water's edge.

Disability access

Cockatoo Island has wheelchair access and disabled toilet facilities. Most areas of the island are wheelchair accessible, though keep in mind that the island is an industrial heritage site so some of the surfaces are uneven and some buildings on the island are not accessible by wheelchair. There is one quite steep incline from the lower island to the upper island.

For more information on current conditions, have a word to our volunteers in the Muster Station upon your arrival, or contact the Harbour Trust on (02) 8969 2100 or email: info@harbourtrust.gov.au.

Cockatoo Island wharf is not formally classed as accessible as particular tidal conditions occasionally make the ramp between ferry and wharf unsuitably steep for wheelchairs. However, this is unusual, and subject to these conditions.

Rubbish

All waste has to be taken off the island by barge which is expensive and damaging to the environment. So we'd like everyone to share in caring for the island by taking their rubbish home with them.

Emergency

In case of emergency: dial 000, or via mobile 112 if out of range.

Security

A team of rangers control the island from 8am to 4pm. If you need to contact a ranger in an emergency call: 0434 652 153.

Island Security patrols the island at all other times. If you need to contact security in an emergency call: 0433 632 791.

Visitor book

Did you enjoy your visit? There is a Visitor's book located at the Muster Station. Take the opportunity to tell us about your Cockatoo experience.

Visitor code

Please enjoy your visit to this special place. We invite you to wander freely around the island, discover its hidden places, picnic on the grass and enjoy spectacular city views.

For the comfort and safety of everyone on the island, please follow the Island Etiquette:

no alcohol to be brought onto the island
alcohol purchased on the island is restricted to beer and wine only
no portable BBQs or lighting of fires
no smoking in buildings
do not bring animals onto the island (except guide dogs)
do not enter construction areas
camp only in the designated campground
for safety reasons, do not fish or swim outside the designated swimming area.

The following activities are not permitted without a licence from the Harbour Trust:

commercial activities
private functions
amplified music
remote controlled vehicles

Cockatoo Island